Collapsible shower structure



L- C. GATLEY COLLAPS IBLE SHOWER STRUCTURE July 9, 1968 Filed Nov. 12. 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 9, 1968 L. C. GATLEY COLLAPS IBLE SHOWER STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 12, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 26 gi INVHNTOR LEONARD GATLEY AGENT United States Patent ()lfice 3,391,409 Patented July 9, 1968 3,391,409 COLLAPSIBLE SHOWER STRUCTURE Leonard C. Gatley, 4652 Peck Drive, Klamath Falls, Oreg. 97601 Filed Nov. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 507,432 2 Claims. (Cl. 4-151) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible shower structure of simple, lightweight tubular components which join into rested engagement with one another to support a water container and shower curtain. The tubular components are adapted for interengagement by inserted plug means and by apertured flattened portions for reception of the plug means and alternately the end portions of other tubular components. intersecting top frame members transfer the water containers weight to upright tubular members while simultaneously imparting rigidity to the structure.

This invention relates to improvements in a collapsible shower bath apparatus especially designed for use by outdoor campers and the like.

It is one of the principal objects of the invention to provide apparatus of the character described which can be quickly and conveniently erected, without the use of hand tools, or the like, from a collapsed, compact, portable form into a sturdy, stabilized structure by gravitational engagement of its structural components for outdoor use wherever bathing facilities or similar shelters are not available.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible shower bath structure wherein said components, identified by various series, are tubular members of uniform length in their respective series and thus lend themselves to rapid and inexpensive quantity production and also to compactness for packaging or storage in knockdown form.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the framework of a collapsible shower bath apparatus made in accordance with my invention and with fragments broken away for clearness of illustration.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, detail view partly in section and on an enlarged scale of a typical interconnecting means for the upper corners of the framework.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a composite view of the various structural components of the frame arranged in series identified by the letters A, B, C, D and E.

With continuing reference to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like parts and particularly FIGURE 1 and series A of FIGURE 4, reference numeral indicates generally identical interconnected tubular members, preferably of aluminum tubing and constituting the corner posts of the frame and of which there are eight identical members, as shown in series A of FIGURE 4.

As viewed in FIGURES 1 and 2, the upper end of each tubular member 10 is provided with a plug insert 11 secured in place as by soldering, spot welding or any other suitable manner. As shown in FIGURE 1, the members 10 are interconnected in axial alignment by insertion of plug 11 of the lower member into the adjacent lower end of the upper tubular member. The diameter of that portion of plug 11 extending into the superjacent member is of a diameter silghtly less than the inside diameter of the latter member to facilitate the forming thereof.

Similarly, the bottom ends of the lower members 10 are retained by the insertion therein of plugs 12 secured within the upturned ends 13 of two ground engaging tubular sections 14 identified in series C of FIGURE 4.

The top ends of upper members 10 are connected to the downwardly turned ends 16 0f the two tubular members 1718 of a cruciform top frame by the insertion into those ends of the plug 11 of each upper tubular section 10.

The members 17-18 are flattened as at 19 at their center sections and thereat interconnected by a pin 20 extending downwardly therethrough. The pin 20 is provided near its bottom end with a diagonal slot 21.

For stabilizing the bottom ends of the lower tubular members 10 in quadrilateral spaced relationship, I interconnect the upturned ends 13 of one member 14 on one side of the frame with its companion member on the opposite side means of tubular cross-members 22 identified in series E of FIGURE 4, each flattened at both of its ends as at 23-24 and apertured as at 25 to slidably engage the upturned ends 13 of the tubular members 14. The cross-members 22 are slid downwardly upon the upturned ends 13 to the juncture thereof with the intermediate horizontal portion as viewed in FIG- U-RE 1.

The top end of the upper tubular members 10 is similarly stabilized but to a greater extent by four tubular crossmembers 28 identified in series D of FIGURE 4, each flattened and apertured as at 29 and 30 respectively for overlapping engagement about the plug inserts 11 of the upper tubular members 10. Such engagement provides a supporting surface 32 for the tubular members 17 18 of the cruciform top frame and results in a rigid structure not susceptible to binding engagement which would interfere with disassembling these related parts.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 1, a water container indicated generally at 35 is suspended by its bail 36 depending from a hook 37 secured to one end of a line 38 entrained over a pulley 39. The pulley is suspended as at 40 by means of the diagonal slot 21 formed within pin 20, the latter being received in aligned apertures 19A within the flattened center section 19 of members 17 and 18. The water container 35 for practical purposes of compactness may be of a collapsible canvas type. Line 38 is reeved over a companion pulley 41 attached to one of the top crossmernbers 28 in any suitable manner. The line extends downwardly from the pulley to a point within convenient reach of a user where it is wrapped about an apertured cleat 42, the latter secured about a plug 11. A ring 43 is attached to one end of line 38 for hooked engagement with the cleat 42.

The bottom of water container 35 is provided with a valve 44 including a spray nozzle 48 all of which is surrounded by a protective annular flange or rim 45 to protect it from damage when a container is lowered or accidentally dropped to the ground.

A curtain C is shown in fragmentary form and is suspended in an ordinary manner from tubular crossmembers 28.

While I have shown a particular form of embodiment of my invention, 1 am aware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to others skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible shower structure of tubular members in resting engagement and comprising in combination,

a pair of ground supported tubular sections in parallel relationship and having upturned end portions,

a pair of tubular crossmembers interconnecting said sections and having flattened ends and thereat apertured for encompassing engagement about said end portions of said sections,

pairs interchangeable upper and lower tubular members each joined in axial alignment and each pair in supported removable engagement with one of said upturned end portions,

plug means carried by said tubular sections and upper and lower tubular members,

and the apertured ends of said upper crossmembers for the purpose of structural rigidity. 2. The shower structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pin is diagonally slotted adjacent its lower end for suspension of a water container.

References (Titer! four interchangeable upper crossmem'bers apertured ad- 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS jacent their ends for encompassing engagement with plug means carried by said upper tubular members, g P a pair of intersecting tubular top frame members ex- 2418915 4/1947 355 tending across said shower structure in a cruciform 15 2725577 12/1955 H 4 164 manner to diagonally brace the structure and each 2778031 1/1957 Lowar 4 152 having downwardly turned end portions and thereat 3 1 3 ogan adapted to slidably engage plug means carried by 8 8 96 Burnett 4 145 said upper tubular member and ultimately bearing FOREIGN PATENTS upon the apertured ends of said upper crossmembers, 20 485,961 10/1953 Italy and said intersecting members being flattened adjacent their center portions and each thereat apertured to receive a pin inserted therethrough to interconnect LAVERN'E D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner. H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner. 

